Carbon sheet truck for manifolding typewriters



April 13, 1954 c. H. BEIDERBECKE ETAL 2,675,113

CARBON SHEET TRUCK FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEWRITERS Filed May 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTORS C H BEIDERBELCKE L. E. PA LMER April 1954 c. H. BEIDERBECKE ET AL 2,675,113

CARBON SHEET TRUCK FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEWRITERS Filed May 25, 1951 V s Shee ts-Sheet 2 Illllllllllllllh f" INVENTORS C. H. BEIDERBECKE BY L. E. PALMER ATTORNEY p 1954 I c. H. BEIDERBECKE ETAL 2,675,113

CARBON SHEET TRUCK FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEWRII ERS Filed May 25. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS C. H. BEIDERBECKE L. E. PALMER ATTO Y C. H. BEIDERBECKE ET AL INVENTORS C.H. BEIDERBECKE Y L. E. PALMER ATTO NEY CARBON SHEET TRUCK FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEWRITERS A ril 13, 1954 Filed May 25, 1951 lwllil \\\\k lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll u Apr l 1954 c. H. BEIDERBECKE ET AL 2,675,113

CARBON SHEET TRUCK FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEWRITERS Filed May 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Shee t s aglw i INVENTORS C. H. BEIDERBECKE E PALMER ATTO Rx EY Patented Apr. 13, 1954 CARBON Y SHEET TRUCK FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEVVRITERS Charles H. Beiderbecke, Poughkeep sie, and Leon E. Palmer, Wappingers Falls; N. Y; assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporatiomof New York Application-MayZS, 1951, Serial No.,228,2,85

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to typewritingumachines;

The object of the present invention istoprovide an improved billing machine of the type using continuous forms comprisingfanfold-or superimposed separate webs, in which means is provided for repeatedly using the ,carbonpaper;

An object is to-provide a fanfcld-billing ma chine with improved means for manually retracting-the carbon sheets upon the completion of typing of each set offorms;

An object is to provide an improved manual member for retracting the carbon sheet carrier or-trucl: which maybe readily adjusted by-the operator-by; a simple wrist or" finger motion-at the front end of "the-"operating "member;

Anobi ectis toprovidean-improvedmeans for adjusting the stop which limits the retracting movement of the carbon sheet carrier when it is necessary: to :sever" the exhausted portions "of carbon" sheets, which adjusting means is operated by a simple rotational-movement of the operating member icr thecarbon carrier.

Summarizing the foregoing, the" obj eotis to provide'means whereby not only is the limitstop for the carbon sheet carrieradjustable by a simple motion of the operating member 'therefor; but i a second simple motion oPa-supplemental device -formingpart of said-member en-- abies' the-carbon sheet'carrier to be completely adjusted with one hand by theoperator.

Other objects of the invention will be" pointed out irr the following descripticn-= and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,- which disclose, byway of' example, theprinciple ofthe invention and; the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle;

In the drawings 2 Fig.1 a perspective view'of abillingmachine embodying the present invention.

Fig. Zisa plan view of the-forms carrying attachmentior the billing machine; parts thereof being broken awayand'the overall lengthcompressed to enable showing the details of the-attachment on a large scale;

Fig: 3 is a side elevation of the-forms carrier attachment as disclosed in Fig-; 2.

Fig; 4 is a large scale'view showing themechanism of the eperatingmemben for the carbon sheet carrier.

Fig; 5 is a-rear viewshbwing'parts'of the-carb'onsheet carrier or truckin section-to 'illustrate the-mechanism-foradjusting'the stop'for the carbon sheet carrier.

Fig. dis a section on'the'line E-Bdn Figr 4:

In F 1 there is shown' in'broken lines a typewriting machine to which is attached; as

shown in solid lines; aianfold-or-continuous bill attachment" embodying the features of the present invention. :Such a combination is com mercially known" as a fanfold 01" continuous'bill 2 ing machine and employs-eithen fanfold forms which comprise a; single sheet accordion pleated transversely or packs comprising; a plurality of superimposed separate strips ofiorms:

The typewriting machine may be anyywell known commercial typewriter; manual jor power; but for convenience" of descriptiom, the type? writer Iii disclosed'in Fig; 1,is the "well known IBM electric typewriter. Sincethis-machine is well known commercially and. since the mechanisms-thereof in so fares the means for-operate ing the type" bars and other details are concerned are well known, no; description will be given of the typewriter; Soyfaras the invention disclosed herein is concerned'it is onlynecessary that the typewritingmachine be-equipped with means for displacing the platen upwardly to per-- unit drawing v the formsstraight to. permit retraction of the carbon sheets inja welljlknown way,

The IBM- electric typewriter; as disclosed in Fig. l, is equipped-"withthe platen displacing mechanism shownin- United'- "States Patent" No. 2,135,948 whichincludesan operating: lover I i (Fig. 1) the lifting of "which-causes the'platen to rise vertically; guided iby the slotted. plates I 2 to a position enabling the completed setof forms to be stretchedout fiat while; the carbon sheets are being retracted to-the next setofforms; This manner of operationof a-billing machine" is well known and for th'atreason willmot be, described in greater detail therein:

The forms carrying-attachment is attached to therear of the typewriting machine by means; of a framework comprising several rods? l3 suitably bent and solderedor"welded-togetheratpl3ato form a bracket-likeframework which includes therod M serving asa rail'to support thetmoving parts of the forms "carrying attachment for movement with the typewriter carriage: in a well known way:

The moving parts =of the forms carrier attachment are best shown in-Figs; Z and 3 'and'include a track member |5 which=-conveniently is composed of an aluminum extruded striphavin the central rib I5'aand the stiffening ribs- ISbM/hifih are shallower than the riblfiarg Both? sides of themember I5 are provided'withribs [517,131.11]

only the top is provided with therib I511 for a.

purpose which 'will bemade clear hereinafter.-

At a point approximately one-third the "length of the member 15*from its-lef-t-handlend (Figs. 2 and 3), the member I5" is securedto: a truck casting l5 preferably made of-a light-weight a1 ioy, such as magnesiumoraluminum: andof hol 1 low construction. Theends-of"the-casting Iii-are formed with the upwardly extending"housingsv iScc in which are pivotal-ly-mounted the; rollers ll which ride on the rail flt, At its front end;

the member I 5 is provided. with aigbracketimema bei l8; the ends ofwh-ich --are --bent downwardly,

and formed with an open slot to straddle the rod H) which is mounted on the side plates 20 of the typewriter carriage. The member I8 is provided with spring pressed latches 2| which are releasable to permit disconnection of the moving part of the carbon carrier attachment from the typewriting machine. The rod [9 is provided with bushings 22 which are circumferentially grooved or shouldered to receive the slotted portions of the member l8 and the latches 2| engage the bushings to compel the bushings to slide with bracket member IS on rod I9. The rod I9 is also provided with two collars 23 only one of which is shown in Fig. 2 and a spring 24 is interposed between each collar 23 and the adjacent bushing 22. The pair of springs 24 and collars 23 thus tend to centralize the member l with respect to the carriage of the typewriting machine and the springs act as shock absorbers to allow the shock of rapid movements of the forms carrying attachment, such as the sudden arresting of the carriage during carriage return operations or at the end or" tabulating movements, to be absorbed and the member l5 arrested with a minimum of whipping action.

The front (Fig. 1) or left-hand end of the strip 15 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided with curved elements25 which may be of spring steel and support the cross bar 26 carrying the side guides 2'! for the forms, the edges of which are shown by the broken lines 28 in Fig. 2. The bar 26 is formed of sheet metal, somewhat C-shaped in section, and the side guides 27 are provided with suitable clamping devices 29 for adjustably securing the side guides in any desired positien in accordance with the widths of the forms.

The rear (Fig. 1) or right-hand end (Figs. 2 and 3) of the strip [5 is provided with the wide bracket 30 supporting a bar 26a having the side guides 21a and clamping devices 29a similar to the bar 26 and guides 21'.

The carbon sheet carrier comprises (Figs. 1. 2 and 3) a truck 3i taking the form of a light weight casting, the central part of which is substantially square and provided with the side branches 31a, 3H), the left-hand (Fig. 1) or upper branch 311) (Fig. 2) being slightly wider than the other. The casting is provided with three pairs of rollers designated 32, 33, of which the rollers 32 ride on the top surface of the member is while the rollers 33 engage the lower surface of the member l5 adjacent the edges thereof (see Fig. 5 also) to enable the carbon sheet carrier to be manually moved lengthwise of the strip !5. The casting 3! is also provided with two additional pairs of rollers 32a, 33a which engage opposite sides of the rib Ilia.

It is apparent that the casting 3| is completely supported and guided on the member l5 by means of anti-frictionrollers thereby insuring that the carbon sheets may be retracted with very little effort on the part ofthe operator.

The top surfaces of the casting 3i and the branches tic; 31b are level (Figs. 1; 2, and 3) and support a cross bar 34 which is channel shaped in section and is provided with the posts which support the carbon sheet blades 36 by means of which the carbon sheets interleaved with the forms are anchored to the carbon sheet carrier or truck. The blades shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are of the type supported at both ends in the truck for use with continuous forms of the type comprising a pack of separate superimposed webs, but these blades also may be used with fanfold forms by equipping the blades. with the web splitters 31 which are secured to the blades 36 by any suitable means. The posts 35 are L- shaped in horizontal section and horizontally slotted in parallel planes to receive the edges of the blades 35, one branch of the L extending transversely of the ends of the blades and being vertically bored to receive the loose 38 having the round finger pieces 38a. These pins may be removed by pulling them vertically by means of the finger piece 38a to release the blades which can then be slid horizontally out of the slots in the posts.

The left-hand or upper (Fig. 2) branch 3th of the casting 3! is provided with an upstanding post 39 which may consist of a separate hollow casting suitably secured to the branch 3% as by means of bolts (Fig. 5) or may be an integrally cast portion of the casting 3!. This post 35) supports the operating handle for retracting the carbon carrier when it is desired to shift the carbon sheets from a completed set of forms to the next blank set. This operating handle is generally designated as in Figs. 1 to 5 and is manually adjustable to suit the extent of retraction of the carbon carrier and includes means operable by a simple wrist movement to adjustably limit the extent of retraction of the carbon carrier.

The retraction of the carbon carrier is controlled by an adjustable stop mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, and 5) which comprises the rack bar 4! secured to the top surface of the left hand rib l5b, that is, the upper one in Fig. 2. This stop bar is toothed and slidably supports a stop 42 (Figs. 2 and 5) having a block 42a having a tooth normally engaging one of the teeth in the stop bar 4!. The stop 42 has stop portions 42b which extend horizontally over the surface of the strip 15 so as to be engageable with a rubber bumper 43 fixed to the carrier by the casting 3!. A similar bumper 43a (Figs. 2 and 3) carried by a lug formed in the bracket member it limits forward or left-hand movement (Fig. 2) by engagement with casting 3!.

A leaf spring 420 (Figs. 2 and 5) fixed to the stop 42 tends to press the right-hand portion'of the stop 42 (Fig. 2) having the block 42a upwardly to hold the tooth in block 42a in engagement with the rack 4|, the stop 42 pivoting about its left-hand end which normally rides on the smooth edge of the bar ll. By pressing downwardly on the right-hand end of the stop 42 in Fig. 2, the block 42a may be released from the teeth of the rack 41 thereby permitting the stop 42 to be moved lengthwise of the rack 4!. This release and adjustment of the stop 42 is effected by a rotational movement of the operating handle 40 and will be made clearer hereinafter.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate in detail the mechanism in the operating handle 483 which enables the movements thereof to adjust the stop 42 and also enables the length of the operating handle to be readily adjusted by the operator. The post 39 is bored horizontally to receive a tube 43 which is freely rotatable in the post but cannot be withdrawn therefrom by reason of a pin 44 which extends through two elongated circumferential slots in the tube 43 so as to permit a limited rotation of the tube 43, the pin being held in the post 39 by a set screw 45. Mounted in the right-hand end of the tube 43 is an arm 43a which is shaped somewhat like a bracket and is keyed to tube 43 by being located in longitudinal slots cut in the tube. This arm 43a is formed with a lug 4312 which extends parallel with the .flQKiSEOf71th8'itllb8f43 :intortherforked end: of: a 'leverafia which iis's pivoted :orr the stud :41. carried: bya-thespost 39in Stud .4? alsorholdsxa: suitable cover; plate 39a in"; place: on suitable shoulders 39b'formed1in the rear: edges of posta39; To the. IOWGEBIldIOf :the.;-lever '46 is pivoted a horizontal linlsjilr thexleft-handend (Fig. 5) extending: through a rectangularslot formed in the castings l The stop-:42 is slottedras shown at 42d: (Fig; 2) so :as to'be adapteditoloosely receivetthe left-hand end ofthe link '48jbut: 'normally 1 there is :"a clearance which permits" the: link 48 to ridecoverathe toprsurface: of thestop Mias it isr shown: in Fig; 2; The::linkF-48a iSJGII-J largedat 48a andis providedfwith' a'springr lfiwhich presses against the outside surface of the: casting 3i and urges:the link ditto-the rightin- Fig. 5. The pin 44 acts-as astoptolimit .the right-hand movement-of link 48. by contacting the left-hand wall ofthe upper slot in tube'v43. When the tube 43 is rotated counterclockwise in: Fig. 5; the lever 45 will be rocked clockwise. and thrust the link horizontally to the left. When. the truck which includes-the casting. 3 I is pushed to'the-rightl mig. 2) as'far-as it cangoas lime ited byrstop v41', the slot 42d: will be positioned opposite theend of the link 48 enabling the-aforee mentioned "movementotthe link' to thezleft to carry the left h'and end of "the linkinto'the :slot lZdandrelease blookJiZa from rackx ll. With: the partsheld inrthis'position, thez-truck-may be drawn to the left by 'the' operator-and the stop 42 will travel with-thetruck; The-operator draws the truck to a new position determined by the amount :of carbon: material exhausted from" the forms and releases "the operating handle which permits the-springs 49. to' Withdraw. the link from theslot 42 therebylocking thestop in itsnew adjusted position;

The internal construction". of the: operating; handle. 40 is shownon a large scalerin -Figres The forward .orfleft-hand: end of. 'thevtube 43 is" reduced in diameterrat tiicrtouguide'ra;roda5il. which has secured to it; at its right-hand end;

a bushing 51 slidablyfitting: the bore ofthe' tube 45 Al's, the bushing being heldfin' placeon rod 250 by pin 51a; The bushing" 5| hasa: transverse holewithinwhich isslidable a bolt member or catch 52 capable of" entering any one ofa'series'of index holes 43am the-underside of tube: at as shown in: Figs." 3 and 4-. In'order to pre ventthe rodfidfrom: rotating freely in the :tube

43,- the rod 59 has a longitudinalwslot 59a intowhichslidably projects awblock. ete-secu-reclato the tube d3. The-bolt orcatch 52'. is retractedl by means of an operating rod 53, theright-hand end 53aof which is bent obliquelyof the-axis of the main: part of therod-53 and is. slidable in an* oblique hole: drilled :transversely of the bolt: or catch 52.

The right-hand end of; the rod '53 :is formed with two right angle bends (Fig.1 4) .,comprising;;

a crank-53b one" bend of which is solderedor. welded in a slot cut ina thick disk 54 sliding. in;-

longitudinal bore 58b inthe left-handwend of the rod 53. This disk 5% supports the rod 53: in. the slot 58a close to the top thereof and substantially coaxial with the rod 59. The crank 53 b: normallyliesrinrasubstantially verticalplane and may beused. as a-trigger. whenthe hand is 707 grasping the operating lrnob, about'to be described:-

The pulling of-the-rod -li-3P tothe-left by'means of-the trigger 53h causesthe bolt 52 to becammed upwardly due to the bend adjacent the inclined endizotsthe bushing 5 i thuszwithdrawine. the bolt 52 fl'fll'ni'. the hole 43d: and releasing the catch. Thismermits therodbilandsleeve 5! to be moved longitudinally-of: thertube 431 like a piston; The holes 43d: :are spacedl sufficientlyclose together thatza widen'ange of adjustment of the operating handlewzis, possible within. the normal working limits cfzthe carbon sheetcarrier or truck.

The $061150.iSJDlDVidGdJWith anxoperating knob EEi'WhiGI'IMmELBTlbE" composed of a=-suitab1etplastic material moldedwaround a bushing- 56 having a boreadaptedrfto receive the end. of the rod 55. Theylrnobwfif is aremovablm secured onth'e rod: 56 by -'meansy.of a -plate blishown in Fig- 6. This l late: t? is; substantially circular in external outline; except for aidownwardly rejecting slotted portion fildsreeeivingithe. enduof the crank 53b, andzis attachedto the sides of the bushing .56 (by nieansof screwsbfi. The plate is formedwith a bent over lug fi'lbf extending into theslotxSfia. thereby. preventingthe knob: to from rotating 'vetotthe rod 5d. The letter also isprovided wi "ta transverseslct 5530 into which project portiQnSI lfbhfi1&tB 5'! when the. knob ibis in place inst position shown. Figs; 4 and '6 and pre* rem die: knob'-iro1n.:being.' withdrawn from the end bf therod 5i Gwing to the fact that the bolt 52 normally is held in. the position shown in: Figrl by a spring fidiocated' in the borewfiilb and pressing against the M and the knob 55; respectively, the rotation. the knob 55 Will also rotate the sleeve is in the manner first described above tooperate as slide 43. After the stop at: has been positioned as described above to compensate forthe removal of theused portions of carbon sheet, the tri "ger lifibmay be drawn to the left and the bolt 52 released to permit the-knob fie'to be adjusted to the new position of the carbon sheet carrier to suit operator's convenience.

.hthe .ithas been customary to: use an operating handle of fixed length in machines of this typewith the result that, when the carbon sheets-arenear exhaustion, theoperating handle extends inconveniently far forward ofthe comfortable position for the operator or alternatively, if to avoid this condition; the handle is made very short; it is necessary for the operator to reach inconveniently far back of the typewriter when the. carbon sheets are fresh and the carbon sheet carrieris working close-to its extreme rearward position. In billing machines of the typedisclosed herein, when exhausted part of the carbon sheets is removed, in the past it has been necessary'to lift the forms with their assembled carbon sheets to some eXtentatlea-st, in order to repositionthe stop which limits the rearward motion ofthecarbon; sheet truck. As the assembledpacks usedin machines of this type are often uite bulky andinsomecases wide and heavy, is a veryinconvenient operation, particularly wherethedeelisaresetend to-end in the ofiice making it less convenient for the operator to go behind. the-desk to reach the stop. Owing to the considerable length' ofthe forms carrier attachment as a whole; it is ver-yinconvenient for the operator'to adjustthe stopirom the front of the machine as it requires bending overthe machine and-reaching a considerable distancerearwardly of-the typewriter andat the same time lifting the forms andassembled carbon sheets. As several ad-justments may-be required. before the machine isoperating satisfactorily, itcan bereadil'y seen that the ability to adjustthestop for the carbon A sheet truck by itself -is =avery distinct advantages and is very useful in reducing fatigue. Machines oi this type when loaded with a very heavy carbon pack are usually quite heavy for the operator to handle, particularly in manual machines, where the operator has to return the carriage by hand. Consequently, an improvement which reduces fatigue in a machine of this type, even when it is power operated, is of great benefit and results in greater production of invoices.

When it is desired to remove the knob 55 for repairs or replacement, it is merely necessary to remove the screws 58 and allow the plate 57 to drop until it is free of the slot 500 whereupon the knob 55 may be drawn to the left and the plate likewise may be slipped oiT the end of the rod 56. It is for this purpose that the Plate 58 is formed with the large eccentric opening 58a (Fig. 6).

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous billing typewriting machine, the combination of a billing attachment having a carbon sheet carrier retractible to displace carbon sheets from a completed set of forms to a sue-- ceeding blank set, a normally locked releasable stop for limiting said retracting movements aoljustably movable in the direction of retracting movement, an operating device movably mounted on said carrier, and means operated by a movement of said device on said carrier, when said carrier i in its retracted position, for releasing said stop and locking said stop to said carrier to enable adjusting movement of said stop by a movement of said carrier.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein the operating device includes an element pivotally mounted on said carrier for actuating said stop releasing means by said pivotal movement.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the operating device comprises an extensible tele scopic arm composed of at least two telescoped members rotatable in said carrier to actuate the stop releasing means.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 in which locking means is provided for locking the members of the telescopic arm in a plurality of extended positions to adjust the length of the arm to the extent of rotation of the carrier.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein the locking means includes a bolt mechanism disposed internally of one of the telescoped members and a trigger device mounted on the other telescoped member for releasing said bolt mechanism.

6. In a continuous billing typewriting machine. the combination of a billing attachment including a carbon sheet carrier, a track along which said carrier is retractible to displace carbon sheets on said carrier from one set of forms to a suc ceeding set of blank forms, a stop rack mounted on said track parallel with the retracting movement, and a stop having releasable locking engagement with said rack to limit retraction of said carrier; an operating device including a tube rotatably mounted in said carrier and extending parallel with the retracting movement of the car- 8 rier, and means actuated by' rotation of said tube for releasing said stop from said rack and including means to lock the released stop to said carrier to enable said stop to be adjusted along said rack by movement of said carrier.

7. In a continuous billing typewriting machine, the combination of a billing attachment including a carbon sheet carrier, a. track along which said carrier is retractible to displace carbon sheets on said carrier from one set of forms to a succeeding set of blank forms, and an operating device for retracting said carrier including at least two members, one telescoped in the other, and one including a bolt mechanism for locking said members in a plurality of adjusted positions corresponding to diiTerent extents of retraction of said carrier, one of said members being mounted on said carrier and the other being provided with a hand element and a member adjacent said hand element for releasing said bolt mechanism.

8. In a continuous billing typewriting machine, the combination of a billing attachment including a carbon sheet carrier, a track along which said carrier is retractible to displace carbon sheets on said carrier from one set of forms to a succeeding set of blank forms, a stop rack mounted on said track parallel with the retracting movement, and a stop having releasable locking engagement with said rack to limit retraction of said carrier; an operating device for'retracting said carrier including at least two members, one telescoped in the other, and one including a bolt mechanism for locking said members in a plurality of adjusted positions corresponding to difierent extents of retraction of said carrier, one of said members being mounted for a pivotal movement on said carrier and the other being provided with a hand element and a trigger member adjacent said hand element for releasing said bolt mechanism; and a member actuated by said pivotal movement, when said carrier is in its full retracted position as determined by said step, for releasing said step from said rack and locking said stop to said carrier for movement by the latter to a new adjusted position.

9. In a continuous billing typewriting machine, the combination of a billing attachment including a carbon sheet carrier, a track along which said carrier is retractible to displace carbon sheets on said carrier from one set of forms to a succeeding set of blank forms, a stop rack mounted on said track parallel with the retracting movement, and a stop having releasable locking engagement with said rack to limit retraction of said carrier; a tube rotatably mounted in said carrier and extending parallel with the retracting movement of the carrier, means actuated by rotation of said tube for releasing said stop from said rack and including means to lock the released stop to saidcarrier to enable said stop to be adjusted along said rack by movement of said carrier, and a hand operating element adjustably movable in said tube for accommodating the position of said element to the extent of retraction of said carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,535 Beiderbecke May 7, 1940 2,318,314 Jackson May 4, 1943 

